PGCE Tutors & QTS – Qualified Teacher Status
For enthusiastic, hardworking individuals who want a varied and incredibly rewarding career, teaching can be a fantastic option. There are a number of ways to become a qualified teacher, which means that the education system in the UK is enriched by teachers who come from a vast range of backgrounds. For most schools in the UK however there is a fundamental legal requirement that teachers must first possess Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Our PGCE Tutors can guide you through the various QTS courses and qualification as a teacher.
How do you get QTS?
Whilst there are a number of pathways leading to QTS, one of the most popular routes is to undertake a university teaching or education degree. There is a long list of universities in the UK which provide teaching degrees (see here for a useful search tool to find the best option for you) , and although the courses do vary depending on the institution, the majority of students will graduate with QTS alongside their BA or BSc.
For those who without a specialist teaching degree there are however plenty of alternative options:
If you possess a non-teaching degree:
- Postgraduate certificate of education (PGCE/PGDE) from a university, alongside this qualification you can also obtain your QTS. (More in-depth information can be found below about this pathway)
- Participate in a school teacher training programme. These programmes schemes are focused on enabling student teachers to acquire as much hands-on experience as possible during their training. There are a number of these schemes in the UK, the SCITT (school-centred initial teacher training) and School Direct are both popular routes for those who wish to train through schools. Often students can complete their PGCE alongside this and may also be able to earn a salary.
If you are already a qualified teacher overseas or an experienced teacher:
- If you are able to prove that you are already an experienced teacher or qualified outside of the UK, you may be able to participate in a 12-week assessment programme as a fast-track to securing your QTS
PGCE Tutors & Courses – more information
Although the QTS technically qualifies students to teach, the PGCE is widely regarded as the academic qualification that certifies candidates have studied the theoretical background for teaching. Alongside this theoretical core, the PGCE qualification is combined with school placements for students to gain essential practical experience. As an internationally recognised qualification, completing the PGCE is useful for those who are interested in a career which could take them around the world. There is an extensive list of universities which offer the PGCE in the UK which can be found here. As a university course like many others, students from the UK are required to pay on average £9,250 for the year long course however most students will be eligible for a student loan and may even be secure a funding that is not required to be paid back under government schemes that are aimed at targeting certain academic subject areas (for more information see here).
How can our PGCE Tutors help?
At Mayfair Consultants, we can assist you with your theoretical studies as well as give guidance on the practical elements of your qualification. This means that regardless of which pathway you choose to take to become a qualified teacher, we can assist you with knowledgeable tutors who can help you to cultivate the skills you need to become a fantastic teacher. Studying for the PGCE alongside QTS is an especially intensive year of study, as experienced teachers understand the difficulties facing student teachers during this program and are experience in assisting students navigate their academic workload as well as the practical work experience in schools.
If you would like to arrange PGCE Tutors or Education lessons or have any questions about our tuition services, please call us on Tel: +44(0) 207 665 6606 or you can send us an email via our contact form.
Useful PGCE Tutors Resources:
https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/ways-to-train
https://nowteach.org.uk/ Information for those who wish to change career to become a teacher.
https://blog.unitedteaching.org.uk/pgce-and-qts-whats-the-difference Blog with useful information and tips for aspiring teachers.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/qualified-teacher-status-qts Government QTS information.
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-categories/teaching-and-education
https://www.teachinglondon.org/
https://www.northwestscitt.com/
https://www.teachfirst.org.uk/training-programme
https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/courses/search/postgraduate/pgce List of universities offering PGCE courses.
https://www.everyonelearning.co.uk/school-direct-general-primary-pgce-with-qts/ School direct programmes and information
https://www.twinkl.co.uk/ Useful database of resources for teachers.
https://www.stem.org.uk/resources/collection/3474/teaching-guidance-and-support-materials Stem resources for teachers to use.